Crime rates may be down in many places across the country, but residents want more, Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell told CNN in an interview Friday morning.

"The nation is speaking very loudly to us for us to change," Blackwell said.

The chief appeared on CNN's "Newsroom" program less than 24 hours after about 300 people gathered outside the Hamilton County Courthouse to protest police brutality and support Baltimore citizens concerned about the death of Freddie Gray.